Brake-beam holder.



No. 640,105. Patented Dec. 26, I899. E. E. CRDWELL.

BRAKE BEAM HOLDER.

(Appl ication filed May 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

fida'rardzo'o edd t) Mom; 3

ED XVARD E. OROWELL, OF WATERVILLE,- MAINE.

BRAKE-BEAM HOLDER;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,105, dated December26, 1899. Application filed May 25,1899. Serial No. 718,252. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. ORowELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waterville, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brake-Beam Holders;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has for its object to provide simple,'eifective, andeasily-operated means for use in connection with brake mechanism ofrailway-cars to hold the brake-beam in proper position when replacingbrake-shoes, making connection with the operating-rod, adjusting theconnections and parts to allow for wear, and for other purposesrequiring the brake-beam to be held against the tension of the springs.

The improvement consists of the novel features and details ofconstruction, which hereinafter will be more fully set forth,illustrated, and finally claimed.

Within the purview of the invention it is to be understood that variouschanges in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any ofthe.

advantages thereof.

In the drawings, Figure l is a detail view in elevation showing theapplication of the invention, the dotted lines representing the axle andabrake-beam of a railway-car. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing therelation of the parts after the lever has been operated to advance theengaging hooks, one of the latter being omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail viewof the grab-hook for making adjustable connection with the links of theconnecting-chain.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In its organization the device comprises hooks 1 and 2, anoperating-lever 3, pivoted to the shank of the hook 2, a connectingchain4, and a grab-hook 5, the latter having pivotalconnection with the lever3 a short distance from its fulcrum or pivotal connection With the hook2.

- parallel.

The hook 1 is adapted to be engaged with the axle 6 of a railway-car orthe like, and the hook 2 is designed to be applied to a brake-beam 7 ofa brake apparatus of the said car. The terminal portion of the shank ofthe hook 2 is outwardly deflected, as shown at 8, and thepivot-fastening 9, connecting the lever 3 therewith, receives theterminal link of the chain 4. By having the end portion of the shankdeflected outwardly or offset, as shown at 8, the pivoted end portion ofthe lever 3 is adapted to lie against the outer side of the shank, asshown in Fig. 2, thereby bringing the pivot-fastening 10 of the grabhook5 in line with thepivot-fastening9 and obviating the tendency of thelever 3 to move either outward or inward.

The hook 2 is of approximately square formation, its closed end beingstraight and its bill and shank being likewise straight and The inneredge of the shank of the hook 2 is provided with a series of teeth 11 tobe engaged by the free end of a hook 12,

loosely connected with the lever 3 and serving to hold the latteragainst accidental displacement when the device is in active operation.

The operating-lever 3 is formed with an offset 13 near its pivotal end,the portions constituting the offset being right-angularly disposed andproportioned, so as to fit close against the outer sides of the shankand closed end of the hook 2, as indicated in Fig. 2. The grab-hook 5,pivoted to the lever 3, has its outer end notched or slotted, as shownat 14, to receive a link of the chain 4 and admitting of the link loopedtherewith being engaged with the hooked end of the part 5. Of the twoadjacent links the one is disposed at right angles to the plane of thebody portion of the hook 5 and enters the slot 14 and the other is inthe plane of the part 5 and fits in the space formed. between the shankand bill portions of the hook.

\Vhen it is required to secure the advantages of the device, the hook 1is engaged with the axle 6 and the hook 2 with the brake-beam 7, thelever 3 occupying the position, substantially as shown in Fig. 1, andthe link of the chain being engaged with the part 5. Upon moving thefree end of the lever 3 toward the hook 2 the distance between the twohooks will be decreased and the brake-beam will be advanced toward theaxle, as will be readily understood. When the offset portion of thelever engages with the shank and closed end portion of the hook 2, thepart 12 is swung into engagement with one of the teeth 11, therebysecuring the lever in the located position. The brakebeam will be heldin fixed relation, thereby admitting of the required work to beperformed with ease and despatch.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In abrake beam holder, axle and brakebeam engaging hooks, a chain connectingthe hooks, a lever pivotally connected with one of the hooks, and agrab-hook applied to the lever a short distance from its fulcrum andadapted to engage with any one of the links of the chain to vary itseifective length compared with the distance between the axle andbrake-beam of various cars, substantially as described.

2. In a brake-beam holder, axle and brakebeam engaging hooks, a chainconnecting the hooks, a lever pivotally connected with one of the hooks,means for securing the lever when operated to hold the brake-beam in therequired position, and a grab-hook pivoted to the lever a distance fromits fulcrum, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character set forth, a hook having the innerportion of its shank toothed and havingithe terminal portion of the saidshank outwardly deflected, an attaching device connected by chain withthe hook, an operating-lever pivoted to the deflected terminal portionof the said hook, a fastening-hook having loose connection with thelever and adapted to engage with one of the teeth of the main hook, anda grab-hook applied to the operating-lever and adapted to engage with alink of the chain, substantially as set forth.

4. The herein-described device for the purpose set forth, comprising apair of hooks for engagement with the axle and brakebeam respectively,the brake-beam hook having the terminal portion of its shank outwardlydeflected and its inner edge toothed,

